Apparatus for oxidizing reactions



Feb. 1, 1944. E. N. RICHARDS APPARATUS FOR OXIDIZING-REACTIONS Filed Oct. 23, 1940 IN\ ENTOR v a 004/ ATTORNEYS.

542 a): M filbfmrds BY Patented F ar, 1944 APPARATUS FOR OXIDIZING REACTION S Edwin N. Richards, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Oil Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application October 23, 1940; Serial No. 362,471 Claims. (Cl. 23-252) In'the operation of oxidizing reactions with an oxygen-providing gas, air or pure oxygen, some materials react exothermicallyand some endothermically. Where the reaction is of exothermic character, the temperature rise inthe material from the oxidizing action may be of undesirable extent, particularly where the material is being operated upon in considerable mass;

Under such circumstances, it has been customarily necessary to carefully watch the temperature and occasionally interrupt the operation in order to prevent rise into a range destructive of the material. The loss of time so occasioned adds to -the cost of production, and it is undesirable in general froma manufacturing standpoint. In

accordance with the present invention, oxidizing reactions of endothermic or exothermic character may be conducted equally well in the same f apparatus, and for operations involving heat generation an exact control may be had on the tem-' perature such as to make possible'the carrying on of the operation without interruptions on account of excessive temperature rises.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing .and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certainillustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly insection, showing an embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional details.

A container 2, of size and proportions desired,

' theports may be appropriately opened to the exis of a character having a heat-conducting wall,

and is closed above, except for an outlet pipe 3 for discharge of gasiform products, etc.; and safety-opening means 4 may be provided-if desired, to release pressure in event of internal explosion. Spaced away from the heat-conducting wall, as by suitable supports 6, is a heatinsulating jacket'l, thus providing a flue space against the metallic or heat-conducting wall, and in turn insulatingly closed over' by the jacket. Projections in form as desired, as for instance outstanding ribs 8 may be provided on the metal wall to increase the heat dissipation. The flue space has openings or ports I ll at the top, and openings or ports H at the bottom. The upper ports are guarded by covers l2, desirably mounted in such'manner as to be controllably movable. For instance, the covers may be hinged as at it,

and a remote control actuating means may be provided, as for example an angular arm H extending from the cover, and flexible means, as a cable or chain l5 from such angular arm provides operation of the cover from the operating floor which maybe at a distance of many feet below. Such ports and covers may be arranged as desired, depending somewhat upon the size of the apparatus. The lower'ports are guarded by covers II, which again may be mounted for convenient operation. For instance, they may be hinged as at l8, and may have operating means as desired. One convenient arrangement is a means for normally holding the cover closed," such as weight arms l9, and hooks lGmay be hooked into a link of the lower end of chain I5 to hold the cover up when in open position. As many ports and covers may be arranged as desired or appropriate for the size of the apparatus.

As seen, when the upper and lower ports are closed, the apparatus is heat-insulated, and an oxygen-providing gas introduced into. the container through suitable means, as for example a bottom perforated coil system 20, permits operation upon material in the apparatus, while guarded against heat, loss. .-.B,y opening the covers l2 and l! as extensively as desired however, the flue system against the heat-conducting wall may be put into operation, and material being treated inthe apparatus is then subject to heat removal to the extent desired. Materials operating by either endothermic or exothermic reaction may thus be treated appropriately, and for materials of the latter character the temperature may be controlled as desired by appropriate opening and closing of the ports. Where the material being treated is for instance an asphaltic petroleum residuum for conversion into asphalt,

the operation may be started with the ports closed, and as the temperature rise necessitates,

tent required to control the temperature in the range desired without detrimental runway and necessity of discontinuing the oxidation. Equally convenient also, are operations on such materials as hydrocarbons to be oxidized for production of oxidation acids; or other materials variously.

Other modes of applying the principle of the 7 invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out anddistinctly claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for oxidizing reactions, comprising a container having a heat-conducting wall, heat-radiating projections on the exterior of said wall, a heat-insulating wall spaced externally 1 from said wall to provide a flue space, a circuit of ports about .the top and a circuit ofports aboutthe bottom of such flue space, hinge-mounted covers on. the top ports, operating chains depending from said covers, hinge-mounted covers on the bottom ports. and means for connecting said taneously hold top and bottom covers open and adjust the amount of opening oi the bottom covers.

2. Apparatus for oxidizin reactions, comprising a container having a heat-conducting wall, a heat-insulating jacket spaced externally from said wall to provide a flue space, ports at the top and bottom of such flue space, hinge-mounted covers on the top ports, hinge-mounted covers on the bottom ports, angular arms extendin from the top covers, chains suspended from said arms, weighted arms out-standing from said bottom covers, and hook means on said last-named arms engageable with links of said chains to hold both covers open.

-3.' Apparatus for oxidizing reactions, comprising a container having a heat-conducting wall, a heat-insulating Jacket spaced externally from said wallto provide a flue space, ports at the top aseacae latter covers adiustably to said chains to simuling the chains with the bottom covers-to hold the same open.

4. Apparatus for oxidizing reactions. comprising a container having a heat-conducting wall, a heat-insulating wall spaced externally from 1 said wall to provide a flue space, a circuit of ports about the top and a circuit of ports about the bottom of such flue space, hinge-mounted covers on the top ports.- hinge-mounted covers on the bottom ports, and adjustable means whereby top and bottom covers can be simultaneously-held open and whereby the amount of opening of the bottom covers can be adjusted.

5. Apparatus for oxidizing reactions, comprising a container having a heat-conductinz wall, a heat-insulating wall spaced externally from said wall to provide a flue space, ports at the top and bottom of such flue space, covers on both 4 sets of ports, and adjustable means attached to and bottom of such flue space, hinge-mountedcovers on the top ports, chains extending from said top covers toward the floor, hinge-mounted covers on the bottom ports, and means for engagthe top covers, and means on the bottom covers for disengageably attaching the adjustable means to the bottom covers whereby to hold both covers open simultaneously.

EDWIN N. RICHARDS. 

